If you are handling incoming SMS messages during this deployment, please also see Uchaguzi - Trusted Election Monitor Cards
Why is categorization so important and how to do it?
Categorization of incoming crisis related information is one of the ways (besides geo-tagging and translation) to give meaning to unstructured data coming from the people and make such information "actionable." It is very important to have common understanding of what these categories mean and how to use them.
- Select one or more appropriate categories, however, try to keep the number of assigned categories to one report to a minimum.
- If you cannot find an appropriate subcategory, select "Other." Will we be auditing these categories later.
- If you repeatedly process messages that do not fit any of the categories and subcategories, please let one of the co-leads know in the Skype channel and we'll have the appropriate people decide how to proceed.
This list of categories was designed with the need to effectively fulfill two different requirements:
- To give the people who are submitting reports (as well as to volunteers who are processing the reports) an easy to understand terminology that will enable quick categorization of incoming data even without specific knowledge and expertise in the field of election monitoring.
- To provide categorization that reflects the needs and systems of responders in order to provide them with data that can be useful for their operations.
Please remember that when selecting a category that the need you that you are highlighting should be be explicilty stated in the report or clearly deducible from the information provided.
- Please try to minimize assumptions in choosing which categories to assign to a report
- Please choose as few categories as possible.
Finally, this list of categories is not set in stone. They reflect evolving situation on the ground and will be edited/modified accordingly whenever it is necessary. If you have any suggestions, please contact Daudi Were at daudi@ushahidi.com.
Categories (related to content)
Category | Sub-Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
Counting and Results | Failure to announce results by IEBC official |
|
| Irregularities with transportation of ballot boxes | No Transport to Deliver Ballot Boxes/Ballot Boxes not Transported to Tallying Centre |
| Ballot Boxes Destroyed After Announcing Final Results |
|
| Protest over declared results | Violence, demonstration |
| Counting Irregularities |
|
| Party Agent Irregularities |
|
| Provisional Citizen Results |
|
Polling Station Administration | Polling station logistical issues |
|
| Polling Station Closed Before Voting concluded |
|
| Missing/Inadequate Voting Materials | Reports of absent or fewer-than-needed ballot boxes, ballots, stations, volunteers, etc. |
| Ballot Box Irregularities |
|
| Campaign material in polling station | Any materials (flyers, banners, buttons, clothing, etc.) pertaining to the promotion of a certain candidate or party. |
| BVR issues | Technical of staffing issues around the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits. |
Positive Events | Civilian Peace Efforts | Citizen led initiatives to promote peace |
| Everything Fine | In previous election deployments we have received many reports from people telling us that things are going smoothly. |
| Police Peace Efforts | The police sometimes have community outreach events to promote peace and security during the polls. |
Security Issues |
| In discussing security issues, please describe as accurately as possible who was attacked, the physical location of the attack, and where known, the attackers. For an issue to be classified as a security issue, it must involve threats or acts that would damage property or persons. |
| Abductions/kidnapping | Including hostage taking. |
| Bombings | Including vehicle attacks. |
| Violent Attacks | Attacks without weapons (e.g., brawls), knives, or few small arms (e.g., one or two handguns) -- if you can, please differentiate between violent attacks and armed clashes. Armed clashes are more serious. |
| Armed Clashes | Attacks with multiple firearms, automatic weapons, or heavy weaponry (mortars, shelling, etc.) |
| Riots | Civil or political unrest explicitly characterized as riots, as well as behavior presented as tumultuous or mob-like. Includes looting, prison uprisings, crowds setting things on fire, general fighting with police (typically by protestors), lynch mob assemblies, ransacking, football riots, and stampedes. |
| Vandalism and Physical Attacks on Property |
|
| Sexual and Gender Based Violence | Rape and other sexual assaults |
| Demonstrations | Including rallies and marches |
| Eviction/Population displacement |
|
| Dangerous Speech | Threat of Violence |
| Rumors | Presence of a credible perceived threat: unverified reports of violence, corruption, intimidation, looting, etc. Something not personally witnessed, but widespread knowledge or notable 'hearsay.' Please specify source and context. |
| Mobilisation towards violence | Where concrete step have been taken and violence appears imminent. (If violence has already started, do *not* use this category. |
| Ambush |
|
| Presence of weapons |
|
| Purchase of weapons |
|
Voting Issues | Voter registration irregularities |
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| Voters Issued Invalid Ballot Papers |
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| Voter Integrity Irregularities |
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| Voter Assistance irregularities |
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| Voting Irregularities |
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| Purchasing of Voters Cards |
|
Staffing Issues | Absence or insufficient number of IEBC Officials/Staff At Polling Station Opening |
|
| Absence or insufficient number of law enforcement officials at Polling Station |
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| Observers/Media Blocked From Entering Polling Station |
|
| EBC Officials not Acting In Accordance to Set Rules |
|
Other |
| This is for reports that do not fit into any other category. Note: Please feel free to flag reports that do not fit into a category with your co-leads in case we would like to add one immediately. We will also be auditing 'Other' category reports to monitor where new categories should added throughout this project. |
Categories (related to report status)
Category | Sub-Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
GEOLOCATION |
|
|
| To be Geolocated | The report needs to be geolocated. |
| Geolocated | The report has been geolocated. |
| Impossible to Geolocate | There is no location information provided, or the content of the message references several (10+) locations over a wide area and cannot be pinpointed to one neighborhood, community, ward, etc. |
TRANSLATION |
|
|
| To be Translated | The report needs to be translated. |
| Translated | The report has been translated. |
| No need to Translate | The report was submitted in English and does not need translation |
URGENT |
|
|
| Urgent | This report requires immediate action. |
| Not Urgent | This report does _not_ require immediate action. |
SMS-V |
|
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| Verified | This report has _not_ been verified by our trusted sources and/or official partners. |
| Unverified | This report has been verified by our trusted sources and/or official partners. |